Daily Bread Romans 3
Daily Bread Romans 3
God's Faithfulness
1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge."
5But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Observation:
Paul is once again laying the foundation for the correct understanding of the Law and Gospel. Many have said that the first sign of a good theologian is to be able to correctly understand the relationship between the Law and Gospel. Paul begins chapter 3 by declaring that our faith begins and end with God’s own faithfulness to us. Just because someone refuses God’s Promise, does not negate the power of the Promise. A Promise is a Promise, especially from God who always keeps His Promises.
Then, in the next paragraph, Paul outlines that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, because none are righteous, no not even one. The word “righteous” implies someone who always does the right thing. If someone is completely righteous, they will always follow the requirements of the Law, since the Law outlines God’s righteousness. They would do the right thing in every situation.
In the famous verse 3:23, Paul concludes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But here is where the Good News comes in. Since God is just, He cannot go back on His standards. Since we are sinful and fall short of God’s glory, we are declared “unjust” and cannot be in a relationship with God. But God in His kindness and mercy declares us to be “righteous” through faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
Meaning although we are not righteous, we are made righteous in God’s sight by faith in God’s Son, Jesus who sacrificed his life by shedding his innocent blood. So therefore God can still be just by declaring us to be righteous by what Jesus did for us and our faith (trust) in Him.
Application:
Although these observations can seem intellectual or esoteric, they are so important for understanding how we come into a right relationship with God. These statements by Paul were the key foundation for the Church when it went through the Reformation in the 16th century. The rallying cry of the Reformation was “By Faith alone, By Grace Alone, Through the Scriptures Alone.” These texts were crucial for understanding that when we trust in God through what He has done in Jesus Christ, we become true believer. This is exclusively God’s work and a result of His mercy and grace, so no one has any reason to boast.
In essence Paul is saying that the playing field has been leveled. Although none of us can measure up to God’s standard through our own efforts, we all can by faith be declared righteous in God’s sight through Jesus. The Jewish community played a special role as God’s used them to portray how God forgives sin and shows His mercy. The lamb that was offered once a year for the forgiveness of sins in Jewish community, was an example of how Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice for sins of the world. But this community was meant to be a blessing to the whole world and show God’s true nature. These promises were not meant to be only for them, but for all who by faith would accept God’s promise of forgiveness through Christ.
You can see Paul’s heart for both the Jewish community that he was born into, and the Gentile community for which was called to preach the Good News. These truths are no less effective or relevant today. In a world where people are constantly trying to justify themselves, the Gospel is a welcome relief to anyone who realizes the futile nature of trying to justify one’s self. As we are faithful to preach the true Gospel based on grace, mercy and God’s faithfulness, God will bring more people into a right relationship with Him. This is a relationship that begins now and will be consummated when we meet God face to face.
Prayer: God we thank you for providing the solution for us to be made right in your sight through faith in Jesus. Jesus, thank you being the perfect sacrifice and being our righteousness in God’s eyes. May we live our lives offering ourselves back to you as a living sacrifice, giving praise and thanksgiving through Jesus the perfect lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Amen.
God's Faithfulness
1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge."
5But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Observation:
Paul is once again laying the foundation for the correct understanding of the Law and Gospel. Many have said that the first sign of a good theologian is to be able to correctly understand the relationship between the Law and Gospel. Paul begins chapter 3 by declaring that our faith begins and end with God’s own faithfulness to us. Just because someone refuses God’s Promise, does not negate the power of the Promise. A Promise is a Promise, especially from God who always keeps His Promises.
Then, in the next paragraph, Paul outlines that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, because none are righteous, no not even one. The word “righteous” implies someone who always does the right thing. If someone is completely righteous, they will always follow the requirements of the Law, since the Law outlines God’s righteousness. They would do the right thing in every situation.
In the famous verse 3:23, Paul concludes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But here is where the Good News comes in. Since God is just, He cannot go back on His standards. Since we are sinful and fall short of God’s glory, we are declared “unjust” and cannot be in a relationship with God. But God in His kindness and mercy declares us to be “righteous” through faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
Meaning although we are not righteous, we are made righteous in God’s sight by faith in God’s Son, Jesus who sacrificed his life by shedding his innocent blood. So therefore God can still be just by declaring us to be righteous by what Jesus did for us and our faith (trust) in Him.
Application:
Although these observations can seem intellectual or esoteric, they are so important for understanding how we come into a right relationship with God. These statements by Paul were the key foundation for the Church when it went through the Reformation in the 16th century. The rallying cry of the Reformation was “By Faith alone, By Grace Alone, Through the Scriptures Alone.” These texts were crucial for understanding that when we trust in God through what He has done in Jesus Christ, we become true believer. This is exclusively God’s work and a result of His mercy and grace, so no one has any reason to boast.
In essence Paul is saying that the playing field has been leveled. Although none of us can measure up to God’s standard through our own efforts, we all can by faith be declared righteous in God’s sight through Jesus. The Jewish community played a special role as God’s used them to portray how God forgives sin and shows His mercy. The lamb that was offered once a year for the forgiveness of sins in Jewish community, was an example of how Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice for sins of the world. But this community was meant to be a blessing to the whole world and show God’s true nature. These promises were not meant to be only for them, but for all who by faith would accept God’s promise of forgiveness through Christ.
You can see Paul’s heart for both the Jewish community that he was born into, and the Gentile community for which was called to preach the Good News. These truths are no less effective or relevant today. In a world where people are constantly trying to justify themselves, the Gospel is a welcome relief to anyone who realizes the futile nature of trying to justify one’s self. As we are faithful to preach the true Gospel based on grace, mercy and God’s faithfulness, God will bring more people into a right relationship with Him. This is a relationship that begins now and will be consummated when we meet God face to face.
Prayer: God we thank you for providing the solution for us to be made right in your sight through faith in Jesus. Jesus, thank you being the perfect sacrifice and being our righteousness in God’s eyes. May we live our lives offering ourselves back to you as a living sacrifice, giving praise and thanksgiving through Jesus the perfect lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Amen.
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